Devil's Advocate

The Devils made it official Wednesday afternoon, announcing that winger Jaromir Jagr had signed a one-year deal.

According to Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record, the contract has a base salary of $3.5 million and a games-played bonus that could make the deal worth $5.5 million.

Jagr’s agent, Petr Svoboda, told Gulitti negotiations were not complicated because both sides were interested in getting a deal done.

“Jaromir wanted to be here next season and he had no question his mind that he wanted to be back with the Devils and the Devils expressed that they wanted him back so after that there wasn’t really that much to talk about,” Svoboda said.

In addition to being named a finalist for the Masterton Trophy, Jaromir Jagr appears set to return to New Jersey for a second season.

The one-year contract was expected to be announced later Wednesday and return the Devils’ top scorer, who netted 24 goals and 43 assists last season.

Jagr expressed a desire to return to the Devils after his solid season and after winning rave reviews from coach Pete DeBoer and teammates, Devils President and General Manager moved to make it happen.

Jagr is playing for the Czech Republic at the World Championships and told reporters there he already agreed to the new contract. Lamoriello told Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record that Jagr’s comment was “jumping the gun.” Still, Lamoriello told Gulitti: “We have been talking and I feel it will get done.”

According to TVA Sports Renaud Lavoie, Jagr’s one-year deal will include a games-played bonuses that could pay Jagr between $5 million and $6 million. Jagr, a potential unrestricted free agent, had a similar deal last season. Gulitti reported his deal was for $2 million with a games-played bonus of an additional $2 million he reached by playing in all 82 games.

“He wanted to come back and for many reasons we wanted him back,” Lamoriello told Gulitti. “He certainly played very well for us and we feel he’s an important part of our team.”

About Devil's Advocate

I am an all around NHL fan. I love to watch Atlantic Division, and root for the Philadelphia Flyers. Just because I cheer for the Flyers, doesn’t mean I don’t keep up with the other teams in the division, specifically the New Jersey Devils. Devils Advocate will provide you with the most important Devils news, filled with my opinion about the selected topic.

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